Bicycle crank-hanger and bracket.



No. 640,967. Patented Jan. 9, I900. W. B. SPENCER.

BICYCLE CRANK HANGER AND BRACKET. v

(Application filed Dec. 31, 1898.)

(No Model arts STAT S WILLIAM BURTON SPENCER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINoIs.

BICYCLE CRANK-HANGER? AND BRACKET.

s'rncIFIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 640,967, dated. January 9, 1906. l Application filed December 31,1898. Serial No. 700,827 (No modem chain-adjusting means for bicycles, tandems,

and velocipedes which employ a chain as the medium of transmitting movement from the crank-axle to the drive-wheel of the machine. WVhen applied to bicycles of the safety type,

it enables the crank-axle to occupya low position and the pedals to drop with a minimum incline to base of frame, thereby adding to its strength. Moreover, it renders possible the quick substitution of long and short cranks and high and low gear sprockets, as

may be best adapted for speed or comfort, for long rides, for rough or smooth roads or against Wind, or for other purposes, as may be desired.

For a full understanding of the merits and advantages of the invention reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings and the following description.

The improvement is susceptible of various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction Without departingfrom the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and to a full disclosure of the invention an adaptation thereof is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bracket and crank-hangerof a bicycle-frame constructed in accordance with and embodying the vital features of the invention. a transverse section on the line X X of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 3 is a view of the bracket and crank-hanger inverted. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on the line Y Y of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective View of the crank-hanger disassociated from the frame and bracket. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the bracket and crankhanger, the dotted lines showing an adjusted position of the crank-hanger and the capplate turned upon the clamp-screw.

Fig. 2 is nipples for the coupling thereto of the elements herein recited. The horizontal or body portion 1 has the several lugs integral therewith and is formed with a mortise or opening 2, extending lengthwise thereof and having its side Walls converging upwardly in conformity to the tapering 1ug3 of the crankhanger 4. This mortise or opening 2 extends vertically through the body portion of the bracket and is contracted at its upper end by end extensions 5, which are flush with the top side of the part 1, so as to receive the end portion of the cap-plate 6, which closes the upper end of the mortise or opening 2 at all times and at all stages of adjustment of the crank-hanger. The style of the bracket and the relative position of its lugs will depend upon the make and pattern of the machine for which the bracket and crank-hanger are intended, and these parts will be variously constructed.

The crank hanger comprises a bearingsleeve 7, bearing-heads 8 at the ends of the sleeve 7, a tapering lug 3, and a guide extension 9, the various parts being integrally formed The bearing-heads 8 are of larger diameter than the bearingsleeve and are spaced so as to overlap the sides of the bracket and fit snugly thereagainst, thereby enabling the side walls of the bracket to be made comparatively thin withoutimpairing the strength of the device. The guide extension 9 fits close against the bottom side of the bracket and operates between a pair of guide-lugs 10, formed with and pendent from the bracket. A binding-screw 11, let into the bracket, passes through a slot 12 of the guide extension 9 and serves to secure the crank-hanger in an adjusted position. The crank-hanger is further secured by fastening means applied to the tapering lug 3 and which securing means may be of any variety suitable for the purpose. As shown, a clamp-screw 13 passes through the upper end of the mortise 2 and enters a threaded opening 14, extending inward from the upper end of the lug 3, the head of the clamp-screw overlapping the top edge portion of the bracket upon each side of the mortise 2. The cap-plate 6 for closing the upper end of the mortise or opening 2 is pierced nearer one end than the other for the passage therethrough of the clamp-screw 13 and is reversible'to enable the crank-hanger to be adjusted the full length of the mortise or opening 21 able length between the extensions 5, asseen, and by piercing the plate 6, as described, it is not necessarily twice as long as the opening 2. The terminal portions of the cap-plate are transversely curved to enable the plate to be swung upon the clamp-screw between the upwardly-extending lugs of the bracket, as seen in dotted lines in Fig. 6, and this is useful when it is required to reverse the position of the cap-plate to admit of an adj ustment of the crank-hanger the entire length of the mortise or opening. The extensions 5 at the opposite ends of the mortise or opening 2 cooperate with the cap-plate to completely close the mortise or opening 2 at different stages of adjustment of the crankhanger, thereby excluding mud and foreign matter from the mortise or opening.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. ,A longitudinally-slotted crank-hanger bracket, in combination with a crank-hanger having a medial lug to enter and operate in the longitudinal slot or mortise of the bracket and formed with terminal bearing-heads embracing the sides of the bracket and fitting close thereagainst, and means for securing the erank-hangerin an adjusted position, substantially as set forth.

2. A crank-hanger bracket having a longitudinal mortise with its side walls upwardly convergent, in combination with an adjustable crank-hanger provided with a tapering lug entering and operating in the said mortise, and means for causing the forcible entry of said tapering lug into the mortise, whereby it is secured by a clamping and a wedging action in any adjusted position of the crankhanger, substantially as set forth.

3. A crank-hanger bracket having a longitudinal mortise with upwardly-converging walls, in combination with a crank-hanger having a centrally-disposed tapering lug entering and operating within said mortise and provided with bearing-heads to embrace and come close against the sides of the bracket,

and means applied to the tapering lug for se curing the crank-hanger in an adjusted posi- The latter is of some considerbottom sides, in combination with a crankhanger provided with a lug to enter and operate in the said mortise, securing means for making the crank-hanger fast in an adjusted position, and a cap-plate for closing the upper open end of the mortise and mounted upon said securing means so as to move therewith and turn thereon between the coupling-lugs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A crank-hanger bracket having a longitudinal mortise in combination with an adjustable crank-hanger, a clamp-screw passing into the mortise and adapted to secure the crank-hanger in an adjusted position, and a cap-plate pierced at one end for the reception of the clamp-screw and having its end portions curved transversely and adapted to move with and turn upon the clamp-screw, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. A crank-hanger bracket having a longitudinal mortise opening through its top and bottom sides and having inner end extensions at the upper portion of said mortise, in combination with an adjustable crank-hanger, a clamp screw or the like for securing the crankhanger in an adjusted position, and a capplate mounted near one end upon the clamp screw and adapted to move therewith and turn thereon and acting jointly with the aforesaid inner end extensions to completely close the mortise at all stages of adjustment of the crank-hanger, substantially as described.

7. The combination of a crank -hanger bracket and a crank-hanger, one of said parts having a tapered guideway and the other part having a lug tapered to fit in said guideway and also an extension, and two parallel screws independently fastening the lug and exten sion in place, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a crankhanger bracket and a hanger, one of said parts having a tapered guideway and the other part having a lug tapered to fit in said guideway,

a screw passing into the smaller end of the lug, an extension on the hanger, and guides on the bracket for said extension,- substantially as described.

- 9. Acrank-hanger bracket, in combination with a crank-hanger, one of said parts having a tapered guideway and the other part having a lug tapered to fit snugly in said guideway but capable of longitudinal movement, and said crank-hanger having an extension, two guide-lugs on the bracket between which said extension is disposed, and independent fastening devices for said lug and extension, substantially as described.

10. A crank-hanger bracket, having a longitudinal mortise with its side walls upwardly converging, and having inner end extensions at the upper end of the mortise, and provided upon its under side with guide-lugs, in combination with an adjustable crank-hanger having a tapering lug, end bearing-heads embracing the sides of the bracket, and a slotted 'guide extension underlappingthe bracket and In testimony that I claim the foregoing as operating between the guide-lugs thereof, my own I have hereto affixed my signature in to clamp-screws for securing the guide exltlension the presence of two witnesses. and tapering lug independentlyof eac other, 5 and a cap-plate mounted near one end upon WILLIAM BURTON SPENCER the clamp-screw cooperating with the tapering Witnesses: lug so as to move therewith and turn thereon, J. S. RICHARDS, as and for the purpose set forth. H. O. BALLARD'. 

